Success Stories

Fairmont Raffles Hotels International

Vice President of Development - Greater China

We retained Scott to support us with acquiring a Vice President of Development for China. As an annual participant at the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), and having completed high level Hotel Development searches for several other hotel groups, we were confident that he was very familiar with the peak performers in the hotel development world. Scott delivered an exceptional shortlist of candidates, as well as presenting us with the Organizational Charts of the Development teams that he had painstakingly pieced together from all of the major hotel groups in the China market – clearly demonstrating that he had left no stone unturned. The successful candidate that we ultimately hired performed beyond expectations and delivered 12 hotel management contracts for us across the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel brands. Scott’s communication and due diligence throughout the course of the engagement was extraordinary. I have no hesitation in recommending his firm.

James KaplanFormer Senior Vice President of Development – Asia Pacific & IndiaFairmont Raffles Hotels International

Hilton Worldwide

Director of Development - Middle East

Scott was the lead Executive Search Consultant on a small team engaged in order to identify and attract a new Director of Development for Hilton in the Middle East. This was a difficult assignment as there were a number of key “business development” personality traits sought after along with the requirement the successful candidate be fluent in Arabic. The further twist being that whilst hotel development expertise was desirable, it was not mandatory. Said simply, Hilton had a very good read on the type of individual they were seeking but had an expansive view on the industry/role in which the successful candidate could be found.

Scott worked diligently to quickly appraise the existing field of hotel development professionals reaching the conclusion that an expansive search was required to fit the brief Hilton prepared. The search was very successful and 11 years later the candidate is still with Hilton in the position of Vice President Development Middle East, North Africa & Turkey and has performed exceptionally. Scott fully understands the fundamental personal and professional characteristics that a successful deal closer must possess, as well as having a strong understanding of the hotel development world. Clearly the record shows he can identify long term talent whilst thinking creatively about an executive search. Outcomes that help to make a huge impact.

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort

General Manager (rebranding)

In early 2010, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts in a competitive bid was awarded the management contract for the Le Meridien Nirwana Bali Resort and Golf Course to be rebranded as an iconic Pan Pacific Resort. The resort included; the world ranked Championship Greg Norman Tournament Edition golf course with 200+ lifetime members, 310 guestrooms, 200 timeshare units, 30 resort homes, 80 privately owned Villa’s, International Spa with 5 swimming pools, water slides, kids club, 5 restaurants, and 1200+ union employees. This was an important milestone for the company and we needed a world-class General Manager for the rebranding and repositioning of the resort. Our expectations were high and Scott executed an extraordinary search - swiftly developing an exceptional shortlist. He was able to attract a veteran hotelier with 25+ years of luxury hotel/resort experience, a passion for golf, and who ticked all the right boxes. Simultaneously we also engaged Scott to find a Director of Sales & Marketing for the resort, where he also delivered an outstanding result.

PTT Family

Chief Operating Officer, Food & Beverage Division

I engaged the SKC Future Enterprises team to assist PTT Family to find and attract a Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer for our rapidly expanding Restaurant Division – we have partnered with SKC on several occasions. Our F&B concepts are unique cutting-edge offerings, and we have a strong company culture based upon family values that we’re fiercely protective of – we’re not just hiring employees, we’re expanding our family. SKC shares our values and understands our company culture as we have partnered with them since our humble beginnings. Finding a suitable MD/COO for our restaurant division was a global search targeting only the most exceptional F&B people in the business – and SKC delivered an extraordinary result with the placement of the MD/COO; formerly a Director of Operations with internationally acclaimed STARR RESTAURANTS, and who had more recently been consulting on several restaurant concepts and openings in Indonesia – so not only did he hail from a company that SKC and PTT Family had specifically targeted, he was also familiar with Indonesian culture as well as being familiar with PTT Family. SKC is our preferred partner when we need to fill key roles within our organization where an Exclusive and Retained approach is essential to find the right caliber of candidates.

Ronald AkiliChief Executive OfficerPTT Family

Hard Rock Casinos

Senior Vice President of Development - Asia Pacific

We engaged with SKC Future Enterprises to recruit a Senior Executive to represent our brand and carry out business development within the Asian Market. They took a very professional approach, not sharing our company name until they had vetted the right individuals. The quality of candidates presented matched our profile, each with a different strength. Their thoroughness, response and follow-up was something not found in the search industry often. We feel like we have the right partnership for future assistance in finding the right talent.

PTT Family (Potato Head Beach Club, Bali)

Managing Director, Hotels & Resorts

We retained the SKC Future Enterprises team to identify and attract several key senior management roles for our hotel division as well as for Potato Head Beach Club, Bali. They attracted a world class shortlist for each role and delivered extraordinary outcomes with a true partnership mentality; they really invested the time to fully appreciate and understand our corporate culture, as well as the company that we aspire to be... this ensured that we were 100% aligned on all fronts and the process was smooth and efficient with a high level of communication.

Ronald AkiliChief Executive OfficerPTT Family

Marriott Vacations Worldwide

Chief Development Executive - Asia Pacific

With a view to further develop Marriott Vacations Worldwide portfolio in the Asia Pacific region, we engaged with Scott to assist us with attracting a seasoned hotel development professional to lead our expansion efforts.

In a relatively short space of time, Scott developed an extraordinary shortlist of veteran developers with relevant experience, the necessary skill set, and the broad network of relationships required for such a role.

Morton's Steakhouse

General Manager, Morton's Steakhouse Shanghai

In 2009 I was referred to Scott by our preferred Executive Search partner in the US - HVS Executive Search. We had been seeking a pre-opening General Manager for Morton's Shanghai - the largest and most ambitious Morton's in our portfolio. We felt that it was essential to have a General Manager that had held the position of Director of Food & Beverage within an internationally branded luxury hotel, and who would also ideally possess experience in a free-standing restaurant environment. This was a tall order as a typical DOFB has aspired to a career as a hotelier. Scott produced an exceptional shortlist in a timely manner, and the General Manager that he placed went on to be awarded General Manager Of The Year for Morton's worldwide three years consecutively. He also came out in the lead in his 4th year, but we felt that we had to give it to someone else to be fair to our other hard working leaders!

I have since partnered sucessfully with Scott on more than a dozen placements now. Each time I find that the way he presents the position to candidates is extremely professional and highlights the attractive aspects of the position and the company. This coupled with his friendly personality leads to highly qualified candidates being interested in the position. He operates quickly and with constant communication to ensure a smooth process for both us and the candidate. His continued follow-up keeps the process moving which could easily get slowed down especially when dealing with multiple countries and continents. The level of professionalism and commitment outstrips any other recruiter I have worked with in the past and a guarantee that he will not recruit from us in the future ensures I will continue to work with him.

David MartinRegional Director of Operations - AsiaMorton's Steakhouse

Hong Kong Football Club

Standard Operating Procedures

SKC have been working with us on the development of a Quality Assurance Programme, which involved the development of Standard Operating Procedures for every department, conducting staff training workshops and the development of an online SOP Library.

Roberts’s broad experience in Club operations has enabled him to develop this programme specifically for HKFC, and to generate ‘buy in' amongst the management team within a short space of time.

Robert has demonstrated a thorough understanding of our needs, and an ability to address the key issues through the workshops. Clear and regular communication between ourselves and SKC have enabled us to move quickly and effectively with the programme so far. We look forward to Phase 2 and the eventual benefits which we are confident will accrue.

Concurrently we also engaged with SKC to search for an Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef vacancy, owing to their intimate understanding of Members Clubs and Hotels as well as their reputation in the marketplace. The team delivered exceptional results in a very short time-frame, and this first experience of partnering with SKC will certainly ensure that we’ll partner with them again when we have needs in the future.

Mark PawleyGeneral ManagerHong Kong Football Club

Whitbread - Premier Inn

Vice President of Development - Indonesia

I have been most impresssed with the support offered by Scott Chiesa at SKC Future Enterprises for a crtical business development role in our new business in Indonesia. Throughout all my interactions with Scott, he has demonstrated a high level of professionalism, integrity and efficiency. He took the time at the outset to fully understand our business needs and expectations, and, with his expert knowledge of the market, was very quickly able to present us with a number of excellent candidates who fully met the requirements of the role. Thanks to Scott, this was a most successful assignment and I very much look forward to working with him again in the future.

KLoe Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Pre-opening General Manager and Pre-opening Consulting Services

We engaged SKC Future Enterprises for Executive Search and Consulting Services for the pre-opening of KLoe Hotel in Kuala Lumpur after the firm was recommended to us by a contact at Hard Rock International. The team developed a shortlist of very strong potential candidates in a short space of time, and the due diligence that was conducted on all candidates was truly remarkable. We have remained in regular contact with SKC since the engagement concluded, we learnt a lot about hiring the right person for our company from Scott, and would not hesitate to utilize their services again when the need arises.

Ping Ho NgCo-FounderBackHome Hostel & KLoe Hotel

Black Sheep Restaurants

Engaged with SKC on an Annual Retainer Basis since January 2017

SKC Future Enterprises has been engaged by Black Sheep Restaurants on an Annual Retainer Basis since January 2017. SKC has placed several key management positions in F&B Operations, Human Resources, Event Management, as well as a number of Executive Chefs – one of whom was instrumental in obtaining a Michelin Star for New Punjab Club in 2018.

Executive Coaching & Career Consulting Services

Next Career Move

I was introduced to Scott through a mutual friend in the hospitality industry. At the time I was seeking a career move and so I booked a one-hour session with Scott where he provided me with some amazing insights and advice gained from more than a decade of experience in the Executive Search industry. A couple of months later and I am working for the very same company that I had expressed a desire to work with. I can highly recommend his Career Consulting Services.

Senior Vice President of Development (Casino Development) – Asia Pacific

HILTON WORLDWIDE

Director of Development – Middle East

Director of Development – China

Vice President of Human Resources – Asia Pacific

JIN JIANG INN

Director of Sales & Marketing - China

Regional Revenue Manager - Beijing

JUMEIRAH

General Manager Burj Al Arab

KLoe HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR

General Manager (Pre-opening)

Pre-Opening Consulting

Compensation & Benefits Consulting

KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB / SIME DARBY CONVENTION CENTRE

Executive Chef

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

Senior Vice President of Development

MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB

Senior Vice President of Development – Asia Pacific

MGM GRAND MACAU

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

General Manager MGM Grand Sanya (Pre-opening)

Hotel Manager MGM Grand Sanya (Pre-opening)

Director of Sales & Marketing MGM Grand Sanya (Pre-opening)

Regional General Manager – China

Compensations & Benefits Custom Survey – Sanya

MINOR INTERNATIONAL

Regional Vice President of Sales – Anantara

MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE

Restaurant General Manager – Taipei

Restaurant General Manager – Shanghai (Pre-opening)

Restaurant General Manager – Tokyo (Pre-opening)

Restaurant Assistant Manager – Tokyo (Pre-opening)

Executive Chef – Tokyo (Pre-opening)

Sales & Marketing Manager – Tokyo

Sales & Marketing Manager – Taipei

Sales & Marketing Manager – Singapore

MORTON’S GRILLE

Restaurant General Manager – Guangzhou

Restaurant General Manager – Shanghai

Executive Chef – Suzhou

Executive Chef – Guangzhou

PAN PACIFIC HOTELS GROUP

General Manager – Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali (Rebranding)

Director of Sales & Marketing – Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali (Rebranding)

PAVILIONS HOTELS & RESORTS

General Manager – Phuket Pavilions

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

Restaurant Development Director – China

POTATO HEAD BEACH CLUB (PTT FAMILY)

Managing Director – Hotels

Chief Operating Officer – Restaurant Division

Director of Operations – Potato Head Beach Club Bali

Beach Club Manager - Potato Head Beach Club Bali

Group Executive Chef – Potato Head Beach Club Bali

PREMIER INN (WHITBREAD INTERNATIONAL)

Director of Development – Thailand

Director of Development – Indonesia

REGENT HOTELS & RESORTS

Chief Operating Officer

Senior Vice President of Operations

SEA GROUP HONG KONG

General Manager Crowne Plaza Causeway Bay

Regional Director of Finance – Hong Kong & China

SWIRE HOTELS

General Manager - The Opposite House Beijing

Director of Sales & Marketing – Beijing

THREE ON THE BUND

Director of Food & Beverage

Director of Finance

WORLD BANK

Vice President of Finance

WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE

Director of Development – China

Past and Present Clients

Client testimonials

Fairmont Raffles Hotels International

Vice President of Development - Greater China

"We retained Scott to support us with acquiring a Vice President of Development for China...The successful candidate that we ultimately hired performed beyond expectations and delivered 12 hotel management contracts for us across the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel brands. Scott’s communication and due diligence throughout the course of the engagement was extraordinary. I have no hesitation in recommending his firm".

James KaplanFormer Senior Vice President of Development – Asia Pacific & IndiaFairmont Raffles Hotels International

Hilton Worldwide

Director of Development - Middle East

"Scott fully understands the fundamental personal and professional characteristics that a successful deal closer must posses, as well as having a strong understanding of the hotel development world. Clearly the record shows he can identify long term talent whilst thinking creatively about an executive search. Outcomes that help to make a huge impact."

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort

General Manager (rebranding)

"Our expectations were high and Scott executed an extraordinary search - swiftly developing an exceptional shortlist. He was able to attract a veteran hotelier with 25+ years of luxury hotel/resort experience, a passion for golf, and who ticked all the right boxes. Simultaneously we also engaged Scott to find a Director of Sales & Marketing for the resort, where he also delivered an outstanding result".

PTT Family

Chief Operating Officer, Food & Beverage Division

"Our F&B concepts are unique cutting-edge offerings, and we have a strong company culture based upon family values that we’re fiercely protective of – we’re not just hiring employees, we’re expanding our family. SKC shares our values and understands our company culture as we have partnered with them since our humble beginnings. Finding a suitable MD/COO for our restaurant division was a global search targeting only the most exceptional F&B people in the business – and SKC delivered an extraordinary result.....SKC is our preferred partner when we need to fill key roles within our organization where an Exclusive and Retained approach is essential to find the right caliber of candidates."

Hard Rock Casinos

Senior Vice President of Development - Asia Pacific

"They took a very professional approach, not sharing our company name until they had vetted the right individuals. The quality of candidates presented matched our profile, each with a different strength."

PTT Family (Potato Head Beach Club, Bali)

Managing Director, Hotels & Resorts

"They attracted a world class shortlist for each role and delivered extraordinary outcomes with a true partnership mentality; they really invested the time to fully appreciate and understand our corporate culture, as well as the company that we aspire to be... this ensured that we were 100% aligned on all fronts and the process was smooth and efficient with a high level of communication."

Marriott Vacations Worldwide

Chief Development Executive - Asia Pacific

"With a view to further develop Marriott Vacations Worldwide portfolio in the Asia Pacific region, we engaged with Scott to assist us with attracting a seasoned hotel development professional to lead our expansion efforts.

In a relatively short space of time, Scott developed an extraordinary shortlist of veteran developers with relevant experience, the necessary skill set, and the broad network of relationships required for such a role".

General Manager, Morton's Steakhouse Shanghai

Hong Kong Football Club

Standard Operating Procedures

"SKC have been working with us on the development of a Quality Assurance Programme, which involved the development of Standard Operating Procedures for every department, conducting staff training workshops and the development of an online SOP Library.

Concurrently we also engaged with SKC to search for an Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef vacancy, owing to their intimate understanding of Members Clubs and Hotels as well as their reputation in the marketplace. The team delivered exceptional results in a very short time-frame, and this first experience of partnering with SKC will certainly ensure that we’ll partner with them again when we have needs in the future."

Whitbread - Premier Inn

Vice President of Development - Indonesia

"I have been most impresssed with the support offered by Scott Chiesa at SKC Future Enterprises for a crtical business development role in our new business in Indonesia. Throughout all my interactions with Scott, he has demonstrated a high level of professionalism, integrity and efficiency. He took the time at the outset to fully understand our business needs and expectations, and, with his expert knowledge of the market, was very quickly able to present us with a number of excellent candidates who fully met the requirements of the role."

KLoe Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Pre-opening General Manager and Pre-opening Consulting Services

"We engaged SKC Future Enterprises for Executive Search and Consulting Services for the pre-opening of KLoe Hotel in Kuala Lumpur after the firm was recommended to us by a contact at Hard Rock International. The team developed a shortlist of very strong potential candidates in a short space of time, and the due diligence that was conducted on all candidates was truly remarkable. We have remained in regular contact with SKC since the engagement concluded, we learnt a lot about hiring the right person for our company from Scott, and would not hesitate to utilize their services again when the need arises".

Black Sheep Restaurants

Engaged with SKC on an Annual Retainer Basis since January 2017

SKC Future Enterprises has been engaged by Black Sheep Restaurants on an Annual Retainer Basis since January 2017. SKC has placed several key management positions in F&B Operations, Human Resources, Event Management, as well as a number of Executive Chefs – one of whom was instrumental in obtaining a Michelin Star for New Punjab Club in 2018.

Executive Coaching & Career Consulting Services

Next Career Move

"I was introduced to Scott through a mutual friend in the hospitality industry. At the time I was seeking a career move and so I booked a one-hour session with Scott where he provided me with some amazing insights and advice gained from more than a decade of experience in the Executive Search industry. A couple of months later and I am working for the very same company that I had expressed a desire to work with. I can highly recommend his Career Consulting Services".

SELECTION OF ASSIGNMENTS

An overview of SKC's broad depth of experience - for further details on Hospitality Executive Search, Hospitality Mid-Management Recruitment, Club Consultancy, and Compensation & Benefits Custom Surveys, click on READ MORE